Circuit interrupter



April 16, 1963 v. DELEVOY ETAL 3,085,097

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed March 4, 1960 WITNESSES tINVENITORS a We or De evoy 9,4 [M

Fernund Ccssolefle X W 2/121; 4. m

ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,086,097 Patented Apr. 16, 1963 3,086,097 CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER "ictor Delevoy, Grivegnee, and Fernand Cassaiette, Liege, Belgium, assignors to Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium, a corporation of Beigium Filed Mar. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 12,752. Claims priority, application France Mar. 10, M59 2 Claims. (Cl. 200144) This invention relates to circuitdnterrupters in gen eral, and more particularly to arc-extinguishing structures therefor.

A general object of the present invention is to provide an improved circuit-interrupter involving few parts of inexpensive construction, and yet adaptable for interrupting a wide voltage and current range.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved circuit-interrupter having an improved circuit-interrupter support. Generally, circuit-interrupter supports are usually composed of a metallic frame, which serves as the support proper, which, in turn, supports a number of insulating parts affording electrical insulation for the circuit-interrupter, and also parts which conduct the current through the circuit-interrupter. As a result, the supports of circuit interrupters, as we know them, are composed of a large number of diverse parts and constitute insulating materials of the greatest diversity, for instance porcelain, ceramic, cardboard, phenol formaldehyde resin parts, etc.

Accordingly, it is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved circuit-interrupter in which the usual metallic frame, which serves as a support for a number of insulating parts, is replaced, along with the latter parts, by a single, unitary, mold or cast part of insulating material of a suitable shape, having apertures therein, for the usual terminal studs, and also having metallic anchoring parts, or attachment devices, for the attachment of various parts which conduct current or which are insulating members. In addition, preferably said improved unitary molded base will also be provided with seats and/ or bosses for attachment, by engagement, fittings, or other component parts for securing the various component parts of the circuit-interrupter into their proper position.

With this improved construction, the previous insulating parts are thus replaced, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, by a single and sole insulator, which consists of a molded part, or casting of a new and somewhat complex shape, but of extremely precise dimensions, which are reproducible from one unit to another.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved unitary, molded circuit-breaker base, which will result in extremely fast assembly of the circuit-interrupter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved circuit-interrupter base having supporting studs molded within the base at one end thereof for supporting the circuit-breaker base in an upright position, when desired, and, preferably, the other end of the improved unitary circuit-interrupter base has suitable recesses provided therein to accommodate an independent arc-chute device, as is usually desired.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved circuit-interrupter construction incorporating a piston device for the interruption of currents, in which the operating cylinder of the piston device constitutes an integral portion of a molded circuitinterrupter base.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved unitary one-piece molded circuit-interrupter base having attachment devices molded therewithin, and serving not only as support means for the circuit-interrupter base, but also for supporting component parts of the circuit-interrupter into their proper position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved unitary one-piece circuit-breaker base molded of a suitable molding material and having a pair of perforated shrouds extending laterally from one end wall thereof for accommodating, preferably in clamping arrangement, terminal studs extending laterally through the supporting insulating shrouds and having contact structures at the inner ends thereof.

Further objects and advantages will readily become apparent upon reading the following specification, taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

The single FIGURE shown in the drawing is a vertical sectional view taken through the improved circuitinterrupter construction of the present invention, with the contact structure being illustrated in the open-circuit position.

With reference to the single FIGURE, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a circuit-interrupter having a single, one-piece, molded circuit-interrupter base 2 of a suitable shape. Preferably, the circuit-interrupter base 2 is molded of a substance having epoxy resin as a base. The single circuit-interrupter base 2 is composed essentially of a rear supporting Wall 3, which provides a laterally extending integrally formed shroud portion 4, having a passage therethrough 5 for accommodating an upper terminal stud 6.

Pixedly attached to the inner end of the terminal stud 6 is a relatively stationary contact structure 7. A clamping nut 8, threadedly secured to the outer end of the terminal stud 6, is provided to clamp the upper terminal stud 6 into its proper position.

As shown in the single FIGURE, the rear sustaining, or supporting wall portion 3 also provides a laterally extending insulating bushing shroud 9 having a passage 10 therethrough. A lower, or second terminal stud 11, having an inner contact portion 12, is clamped into position by a second clamping nut 13. It will be noted that the lower terminal stud 11 pivotally supports, as at 14,

a rotatable moving contact arm, generally designated by the reference numeral 15. A main moving contact 16 is secured to, and movable with, the rotatable contact arm 15, and makes contacting engagement with the main stationary contact 17 of the stationary contact structure 7.

It will be noted that integrally formed with the rear support wall 3 is a pair of spaced lateral side walls 18, only one of which is shown. The two spaced lateral, or side walls 18 are, in addition, interconnected at the front side of the circuit-interrupter 1 by an interconnecting, integrally formed, supporting wall portion 19. As a result, an open inner contact space 20 is provided by the substantially rectangularly-shaped arc-chute construction illustrated.

A distinct advantage of the foregoing single-piece unitary molded circuit-interrupter base construction is that the arc is drawn within the space 20 within a vented flue formed by walls having no slots, or lateral joints, which might permit lateral leakage of the arc gases.

A contact stud 211. is molded within the front integrally formed cross-brace 19, and is electrically connected to the moving contact arm 15 by a conducting strap 22. As shown, the conducting strap 22 is electrically connected at its upper end to the lower end 23 of the contact stud 21. The lower end of the connecting strap 22 is connected, as at 24, to the inner end of the contact portion 12 of lower terminal stud ill.

The upper end 25 of the contact stud 21 is exposed within a recess 26. Disposed adjacent the righthand end of the circuit-interrupter l are spring contacts 27, which are electrically connected with the fixed, or relatively stationary contact structure 7, and are preferably formed as an integral part of the assembly of the stationary contact structure 7. The contact pin 25 and the flexible spring contacts 27 serve as a connecting means for the supply of current to blowout coils, which are integrally assembled with the support for an arcchute device, not illustrated. The arc-chute device, not shown, may be clamped upon the upper end of the circuit-interrupter base 2. Recesses 28-30 are provided for the reception of the aforementioned arc-chute device, as well as a positioning pin 31. The positioning pin 31 is specifically provided for the purpose of precisely positioning the aforementioned arc-chute device, not shown. Reference may be had to the concurrently filed patent application of ours, filed March 4-, 1960, Serial No. 12,753, entitled Circuit-interrupter," and assigned to the assignee of the instant application, for details of the arc-chute device.

With reference to the lower portion of the circuitinterrupter base 2, it will be noted that the lateral side walls 18 and the rear support wall 3 are integrally joined by a base-plate portion 32. The base portion 32, in addition, provides an operating cylinder 33 for a puffer device 34, which is associated with the circuit-interrupter It. As is well known to those skilled in the art, the puffer device 34 has as its function, the ejecting of compressed gas into the arc space to assist in extinguishing the established are.

It will be noted that the region 35, provided by the operating cylinder 33, is connected, as by a press fit, with an insulating conduit, or tube 36 to an orifice nozzle 37, the latter being secured, by any appropriate means, through the intermediary of a metallic bracket 38 secured by bolts 39 Within molded inserts 45). The tapped inserts 40 are, as shown, molded within the rear support wall 3 of the circuit-interrupter base 2.

As is well understood by those skilled in the art, the ejecting nozzle 37 forces a compressed blast of gas against the arc established within the arc region 20. The compressed gas is provided by the movement of a piston, not shown, which moves upwardly within the operating cylinder 33 during the opening stroke of the circuitinterrupter 1. Reference may be had to the aforesaid patent application in this connection.

As shown in the single FIGURE, the circuit-interrupter unitary base support 2 may be maintained in an upright position, as shown, by threaded support stud 41, 42, which may be fastened to a base support frame, not shown. The support studs 41, 42, are maintained fixedly in position by being molded Within the side walls 18 of the unitary base 2.

The present invention makes it possible for the manufacturers of eircuit-interrupters to manufacture such de vices with dimensions appreciably smaller than the ones which are at present on the market. At the same time, there is a marked reduction in the cost price by saving both on labor and materials.

It is, of course, possible to employ the circuit-interrupter base 2, as described above, in connection with sees? other modified types of circuit-interrupter component parts without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

Also, as will be obvious, by providing a single unitary molded circuit-interrupter base 2 having the fastening devices 21, ll, 42 and 4t} molded therewithin rapid assembly of the completed circuit-interrupter is achieved in a minimum amount of assembly time. Moreover, since the circuit-interrupter base 2 is of unitary construction, it is rigid, strong, and adaptable for being molded with precise dimensions.

The employment of a single unitary one-piece molded circuit-interrupter base 2; provides a chimney, or flue effect for the rapid extinction of the circuit-interrupter are, since all sides of the arcing region 2% are enclosed by the wall portions of the molded circuit-interrupter base 2, it being unnecessary to rely upon bolting, or otherwise fastening separate side pieces together invariably having cracks, or leakage passages therebetween. As a result, the chimney passage, or flue extending through the contact region 2i) is completely enclosed, and this facilitates the upward passage of the un-ionized arc gases to assist in arc extinction.

Although there has been shown and described a specific structure, it is to be clearly understood that the same wa merely for the purpose of illustration, and that changes and modifications may readily be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. An air-break type circuit interrupter including a substantially U-shaped rectangular housing of one-piece molded insulating material, a pair of spaced terminal studs mounted upon and extending through a continuous rear portion of said one-piece molded housing, stationary contact means mounted within said U-shaped housing on the interior end of one of said spaced terminal studs, hinge contact means also mounted Within said U-shaped housing on the interior end of the other of said spaced terminal studs, a rotatable contact arm pivotally mounted on said hinge contact means and carrying a movable main contact at the free end thereof for separable engagement with said stationary contact means to establish arcing, one end of said molded rectangular housing being open and adaped for the reception of a removable arcchute device, a front cross-brace of insulating material integrally molded with said housing and extending across the front of said molded housing between the two side walls thereof for reinforcement of the housing, a combined positioning pin and electrical connector extending through said cross-brace and longitudinally of the housing toward said one end of the housing, and stationary strap means connected to the interior end of said positioning pin and also to said hinge contact means whereby current may be transferred from the movable contact through said strap means and positioning pin to the arcing horn structure of the associated arc chute for circuit interruption.

2. An air-break type circuit interrupter including a substantially U-shaped rectangular housing of one-piece molded insulating material, a pair of spaced terminal studs mounted upon and extending through a continuous rear portion of said one-piece molded housing, stationary contact means mounted within said U-shaped housing on the interior end of one of said spaced terminal studs, hinge contact means also mounted within said U-shaped housing on the interior end of the other of said spaced terminal studs, a rotatable contact arm pivotally mounted on said hinge contact means and carrying a movable main contact at the free end thereof for separable engagement with said stationary contact means to establish arcing, one end of said molded rectangular housing being open and adapted for the reception of a removable arcchute device, air-puifer means including an operating cylinder portion molded within a lower base portion of 5 6 said housing close to said hinge contact means for co- References Cited in the file of this patent operation with a puffer piston, molded insert means molded in said continuous rear portion of the molded housing, UNITED STATES PATENTS bracket means secured to said insert means, an ejecting 2,051,659 Uebermuth Apr. 18 1936 nozzle secured to said bracket means, and air-blast pipe 5 2,866,043 Dickinson et a1. Dec. 23, 1958 means extending from said molded operatmg cylinder to said ejecting nozzle, whereby reciprocal movement of FOREIGN PATENTS a piston within said molded operating cylinder will force a blast of air through the air-blast pipe means and out 56,690 Belgium Ap 0, 1957 the ejecting nozzle to assist in arc extinction. 10 655,585 Germany Jan. 18, 1938 

1. AN AIR-BREAK TYPE CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED RECTANGULAR HOUSING OF ONE-PIECE MOLDED INSULATING MATERIAL, A PAIR OF SPACED TERMINAL STUDS MOUNTED UPON AND EXTENDING THROUGH A CONTINUOUS REAR PORTION OF SAID ONE-PIECE MOLDED HOUSING, STATIONARY CONTACT MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN SAID U-SHAPED HOUSING ON THE INTERIOR END OF ONE OF SAID SPACED TERMINAL STUDS, HINGE CONTACT MEANS ALSO MOUNTED WITHIN SAID U-SHAPED HOUSING ON THE INTERIOR END OF THE OTHER OF SAID SPACED TERMINAL STUDS, A ROTATABLE CONTACT ARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID HINGE CONTACT MEANS AND CARRYING A MOVABLE MAIN CONTACT AT THE FREE END THEREOF FOR SEPARABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STATIONARY CONTACT MEANS TO ESTABLISH ARCING, ONE END OF SAID MOLDED RECTANGULAR HOUSING BEING OPEN AND ADAPTED FOR THE RECEPTION OF A REMOVABLE ARCCHUTE DEVICE, A FRONT CROSS-BRACE OF INSULATING MATERIAL INTEGRALLY MOLDED WITH SAID HOUSING AND EXTENDING ACROSS THE FRONT OF SAID MOLDED HOUSING BETWEEN THE TWO SIDE WALLS THEREOF FOR REINFORCEMENT OF THE HOUSING, A COMBINED POSITIONING PIN AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CROSS-BRACE AND LONGITUDINALLY OF THE HOUSING TOWARD SAID ONE END OF THE HOUSING, AND STATIONARY STRAP MEANS CONNECTED TO THE INTERIOR END OF SAID POSI- 